Infinitive or Gerund ? 不定詞又は進行形
先日の実力テストで、try は to 不定詞しかとらない、という趣旨の問題が出ていましたので、try についてまとめておきたいと思います。”try” の次にくるものは、to 不定詞、動名詞、and の３つがありますが、微妙に意味が違ってきます。手元の語法辞典から引用しておきます。
Verb ＝ 動詞（勉強する、走る、習う、買う 等）
Grammar & Usage ～文法＆語法について～
try and Verb
(try and study) / try to Verb (try to study)
Try and Verb also try to Verb are almost identical in meaning and are current in all varieties of standard English: I’ll try and come tomorrow morning. However, in formal writing try to might be preferred: I will try to come tomorrow morning.
try to Verb / try Verb-ing
Example A
He tried to climb Mt. Yotei.
This means “He made effort to climb Mt. Yotei, but he couldn’t climb the mountain.”
Example B
He tried climbing Mt. Yotei.
This might mean “He climbed Mt. Yotei to see if he could handle the physical stress and the high altitude.” Or maybe he started planning to go but when he went to the front door of his house he saw it was raining and he gave up.
It’s important to finish.
Finishing is important.
She was shocked to find out.
Finding out was shocking.
try and Verb と try to Verb では、意味としてはほぼ同じですが、Formal Writing では、try to Verb の方が好まれるということです。American Heritageにも同じ趣旨の解説が載っています。try to Verb は「努力する」ことに力点が置かれ、try Verb+ing は「実際にしてみる」ことに力点が置かれる、という違いがあるそうです。このあたりは、同じ行為を見ても、書く人の解釈によってどちらにでもなると思います。
want to ~ はどうでしょう？確かに want は、肯定文ではto (infinitive) しかとりませんが、否定文で want に続いて目的語が来る場合は、to~ のかわりに~ing (gerund) がくることがあります。
want … Verb-ing / want … to Verb
Example A
I don’t want you to criticize my work.
Example B
I don’t want you criticizing my work.
The infinitive in Example A implies future as well as present, whereas the participle form in Example B implies present progressive. In usage, however, there is little real semantic difference between the two.
to (infinitive) の方は、「これから、あるいは将来、批判されることがいやだ」という意味で、~ing (gerund) になると「今、批判されているのがいやだ」という意味が出てきます。
その他、need to ~, need ~ing などがありますが、この２つの意味は違います。
このような表現になると、自分の経験でよく聞くほうを「正しい」と思いがちです。「そんな表現はあまり使わない…」と簡単に言ってしまう英語の先生がいたりします。分かっているつもりでも、しっかり辞書を引いて判断することが大事だと思います。
例文（Example Sentences）
I tried to eat natto.
私は納豆を食べようとした。
I tried eating natto.
私は納豆を食べてみた。
He tried to add humor into his speech.
彼はスピーチにユーモアを付け加えようとした。
He tried to apply what he learned about economics to dealing with his clients.
彼は経済学で学んだ知識を、客の対応に応用しようとした。
He tried to make it easy for me.
彼は私を気楽にしてくれました。
He tried to paint like Renoir.
彼はルノワールのような絵を描こうと努力しました。
I tried counting sheep.
羊を数えてみたんだけどね。
I tried repairing the watch by myself, but it went bad to worse. Now it’s a dead loss.
自分で時計を修理しようとしたら、余計に悪くなってしまった。丸損です。
I tried winding dental floss around my fingers, but it was difficult to reach the back teeth this way, so I ended up not using the floss.
デンタルフロスを指に巻き付けて使ってみたのですが、奥歯の方となるととても使いづらく、結局は使わなくなってしまっていました。
文法クイズ （進行形又は不定詞）
Grammar Quiz 1
( ) の中に上記のあてはまる不定詞または動名詞を選び文書を完成させましょう！
例: I stopped (smoke) last month.
〇 I stopped smoking last month.
✖ I stopped to smoke last month.
Look at the English below and decide whether the verb should use to ～ or ～ing.
to ～ または ～ing で答えましょう。
質問（QUESTIONS）
1. I stopped (get) some food on the way to Tokyo.
2. Did you remember (post) that letter? It’s very important.
3. Your dog needs (train).
4.
A: I tried (lose) weight but it’s impossible.
B: Have you tried (go) to a gym?
5.
A: What’s wrong with that computer?
B: I don’t know. It stopped (work) yesterday.
6. I don’t remember (come) home last night.
I must have drunk too much.
7. The boss needs (talk) to you.
8. I am (go) to the bank.
9. I was (go) to the bank.
10. I don’t need (go) to school today.
問題解答（ANSWERS）
1. I stopped (to get) some food on the way to Tokyo.
2. Did you remember (to post) that letter? It’s very important.
3. Your dog needs (training).
4.
A: I tried (to lose) weight but it’s impossible.
B: Have you tried (going) to a gym?
5.
A: What’s wrong with that computer?
B: I don’t know. It stopped (working) yesterday.
6. I don’t remember (coming) home last night.
I must have drunk too much.
7. The boss needs (to talk) to you.
8. I am (going) to the bank.
9. I was (going) to the bank.
10. I don’t need (to go) to school today.
「文法＆語法について」のトップページへ進行形にできない動詞
いままで進行形を勉強してきましたが、実は進行形にできない動詞があります。それは、状態を表す動詞です。これらの動詞は、元々「〜している」の意味が含まれているので進行形にはできません。
例えば、like, love, know, want, see, have 等の動詞です。
例文：
〇 I know his name.
（私は彼の名前を知っています。）
✖ I am knowing his name.
（私は彼の名前を知っているところです。）
✖ の文は明らかに変です。そして、これら進行形にできない動詞で、一番よく出題されるのが have です。なぜなら、意味が二つあるからです。下の二つの例文を見てください。
例文：
✖ She is having a book.
（彼女は本を持っているところです。）
〇 She is having dinner.
（＝ She is eating dinner.）
（彼女は夕食を食べているところです。）
have には「持つ」と「食べる」の二つの意味があります。そして、「食べる」の意味の場合だけ進行形が可能になります。もちろんその場合は、eat でもかまいません。
「持っている」ならOKじゃないの？と思う方も多いのですが、「手に持つ」場合は、hold という動詞を使います。
✖ She is having a pen.
（✖ 彼女は鉛筆を持っているところです。）
〇 She is holding a pen.
（◎ 彼女は鉛筆を持っていま。）
Post your answers in the comment area below.
Infinitive / Gerund
to ～ か ～ing または to ～ing で答えましょう。
For example:
to get / getting / to getting
He wanted (get) a textbook.
↓
He wanted to get a textbook.
Grammar Quiz 2
| 1) She needed (get) out of bed. |
| 2) I demanded (speak) to the manager. |
| 3) He offered (help). |
| 4) They miss (go) to the city. |
| 5) We wanted (do) it. |
| 6) I’d hate (arrive) late. |
| 7) She admitted (steal) the money. |
| 8) I chose (work) here. |
| 9) She waited (buy) a drink. |
| 10) I really appreciate (be) on holidays. |
| 11) I couldn’t help (laugh). |
| 12) It seems (be) raining. |
| 13) I considered (move) to Chitose. |
| 14) They practised (speak). |
| 15) Finally, I managed (finish) that work. |
| 16) I really can’t stand (wait) for the subway trains. |
| 17) Unfortunately, we can’t afford (buy) a new car this year. |
| 18) She risked (be) late. |
| 19) I’d love (come) with you. |
| 20) I prepared (go) on a holiday. |
Grammar Quiz 3
| 1) He needs (get) out of the room. |
| 2) I said I like (speak) to my friend. |
| 3) I didn’t offer (go). |
| 4) Glen was (walk) to Odori Park at 3pm. |
| 5) You needed (finish) it last week. |
| 6) I love (watch) movies. |
| 7) She admitted (eat) the last donut. |
| 8) I didn’t want (buy) the red one. |
| 9) He waited (see) what his friend wanted. |
| 10) I appreciate (be) told about the good thing I do. |
| 11) I couldn’t stop (drive). |
| 12) It tends (be) colder on weekdays. |
| 13) I thought about (catch) a subway train to Sapporo Station. |
| 14) They liked (talk). |
| 15) Finally, I managed (go) fishing. |
| 16) I am (wait) for the bus now. |
| 17) We can’t risk (go) over there. |
| 18) She hates (be) the last person to leave the room. |
| 19) I’d like (go) with my friends next time. |
| 20) I was allowed (drink) during the English lesson. |
Adjectives followed by the to-infinitive
afraid
amazed
anxious
ashamed
bound
careful
certain
content
delighted
determined
eager
eligible
fortunate
glad
happy
hesitant
liable
likely
lucky
pleased
proud
ready
reluctant
sad
shocked
sorry
surprised
Can you think of any others?
Feel free to post any answers in the comments section below.
Grammar Quiz 4
1) My mother wants (get) a new dress.
2) The teacher said (speak) is an important skill.
3) I didn’t want (drink).
4) Your dad was (walk) through the forest yesterday.
5) (Finish) your math homework is important.
6) I love (see) my friends on the weekend.
7) She was shocked (find out) the last donut had been eaten.
8) I didn’t want (touch) the hot plates.
9) He waited (see) what was on at the cinema.
10) I appreciate (be) told about the good things I do.
11) It couldn’t stop (study).
12) (Be) strong is considered a good thing by some people.
13) You thought about (catch) the subway train, didn’t you?
14) We liked (talk) about Daimaru.
15) Finally, she managed (get) a ticket to the free concert.
16) We are (wait) for the ferry now.
17) She likes (go) hiking.
18) He wants (get) paid for the work he did last week.
19) He’d love (go) next time.
20) Sogen was allowed (drink) water during the test.
Examples of Infinitive Verbs as Adjectives
When infinitive verbs act as adjectives, they describe the noun that they follow. Infinitives also modify nouns in sentences.
- English is my favorite subject to study.
- Finnegans Wake by James Joyce is a difficult book to understand.
- My favorite dessert to make is ice cream cake.
- She certainly gave us something to think about.
- He’ll always have a friend to confide in.
- That painting is a valuable heirloom to pass down.
- That is the most important thing to know.
- The best method to use is one of the new methods.
- The Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament is the game to watch.
- Do you have any clothes to wash?
Unlike infinitives that act as nouns in the sentence, adjectival infinitives answer the question “What kind of…”
In the example “Do you have any clothes to wash?” the infinitive “to wash” clarifies what kind of clothes they are.
